Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can copy itself and infect a computer. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. A true virus can only spread from one computer to another (in some form of executable code) when its host is taken to the target computer; for instance because a user sent it over a network or the internet, or carried it on a removable medium such as a floppy disk, CD, DVD, or USB drive. Viruses can increase their chances of spreading to other computers by infecting files on a network file system or a file system that is accessed by another computer.
The term "computer virus" is sometimes used as a catch-all phrase to include all types of malware, adware, and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability. Malware includes Computer Viruses, worms, Trojans, most rootkits, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware, and other malicious and unwanted software, including true viruses. Viruses are sometimes confused with computer worms and Trojan horses, which are technically different. A worm can exploit security vulnerabilities to spread itself to other computers without needing to be transferred as part of a host, and a Trojan horse is a program that appears harmless but has a hidden agenda. Worms and Trojans, like viruses, may cause harm to a computer system's hosted data, functional performance, or networking throughput, when they are executed. Some viruses and other malware have symptoms noticeable to the computer user, but many are surreptitious or go unnoticed.
Anti-Virus
An Anti-Virus can detect and eliminate known viruses after the computer downloads or runs the executable. There are two common methods that an anti-virus software application uses to detect viruses. The first, and by far the most common method of virus detection is using a list of virus signature definitions. This works by examining the content of the computer's memory (its RAM, and boot sectors) and the files stored on fixed or removable drives (hard drives, floppy drives), and comparing those files against a database of known virus "signatures". The disadvantage of this detection method is that users are only protected from viruses that pre-date their last virus definition update. The second method is to use a heuristic algorithm to find viruses based on common behaviors. This method has the ability to detect viruses that anti-virus security firms have yet to create a signature for.
Some anti-virus programs are able to scan opened files in addition to sent and received e-mails 'on the fly' in a similar manner. This practice is known as "on-access scanning." Anti-virus software does not change the underlying capability of host software to transmit viruses. Users must update their software regularly to patch security holes. Anti-virus software also needs to be regularly updated in order to prevent the latest threats.
One may also minimize the damage done by viruses by making regular backups of data (and the operating systems) on different media, that are either kept unconnected to the system (most of the time), read-only or not accessible for other reasons, such as using different file systems. This way, if data is lost through a virus, one can start again using the backup (which should preferably be recent).
a computer virus is a hacking software that you download on your computer
anti-virus is the software that gets rid of viruses
If you suspect there is a virus on your computer, you should immediately scan your computer with an installed antivirus. When your antivirus finds a virus, either have it quarantined or removed. By quarantining a virus, you have the ability to send the file to the antivirus company for analysis, so that way they can protect other clients from the virus.
antivirus
Install an antivirus software.
a computer virus is a hacking software that you download on your computer anti-virus is the software that gets rid of viruses
Get yourself a good antivirus.
you use antivirus and scan the computer then remove the virus
do not worry about anything if we have a good antivirus program then it cant affect our computer with a virus
An antivirus program
it protects your computer from virus's
Computer Virus Signature are updates that has been downloaded mainly by an Antivirus program. These Virus Signature are patterns and behaviors of a virus. If your Antivirus detected a file and it's pattern and behavior the same as the virus signature, it will automatically list it as virus.
Antivirus software will notice about the virus,malware,spyware etc
using antivirus software